Unmarried + Children

Children Born Outside of Marriage Deserve Â Support from Two Parents

Birth outside of marriage is a frequent occurrence around the country. According to federal statistics, four out of every 10 babies born in 2007 was born to an unmarried mother. And Georgia is no exception; in some counties, the percentage of births outside marriage is now over fifty percent.Â Fathers and mothers are often surprised to learn that if the parents are not married when a child is born; a father has no legal rights or responsibilities, even if he is named as the father on the birth certificate. He has no rights to child custody, visitationÂ and no obligation to pay child support. These rights and responsibilities must be established through a paternity action or legitimation.